37 Black Swans: Winding down term 4

Monday and we are up and into our usual routine.
Jess and Aaron pack up and head off to the airport...(just one last photo..or two!!) Thanks guys..

It is all a bit much for Thomas seeing the last of his extended family leave...he has a few tears.
We try to continue with routine recorder practice...but the tears keep falling and we have to stop and have a cuddle instead.. We talk about how lucky we are to have had such a special time together over the past few days.. And thankfully Narns is still in Tassie and we will see her again soonish.
Fortunately there will be the distraction of Christmas Concert rehearsals today at school.
John and I have a lot of orders to do today..
The weather is amazingly warm...just beautiful.
This afternoon Tom has a special fishing expedition with scouts. They will be going out on a couple of boats...A perfect day for it.
We do a bit of Christmas preparation before scouts.

John and I drive him down and I walk back home..

After our dinner , I walk back down and John drives..

We have to wait awhile before Tom gets ashore..but it is no punishment to sit looking out at the water on such a glorious evening.

Tuesday and it is not as warm as yesterday..and the clouds roll in again...
John and I are up at 5.30am to go up on the hill at Wattle Grove to harvest Anagallis. (Tom stays at home to sleep.) It is beautiful up there so early.

John drops me at King's Hill so I can walk home...wonderful.

I get on with orders once Tom is off to school and John processes the Anagallis.

Then he harvests some Veronica from out garden and processes that too. Will be good to have fresh tincture.

After lunch I go over to help Tom's Class. We end up down at the hall..doing another rehearsal for the concert tomorrow. I give a hand with some hall decorating..

I won't get to the concert tomorrow as John has to go into Hobart to do some chores..so it is good to get a bit of an idea of the performance.

The rose garden in front of the school is flourishing.

Back to work and there are parcels to go up to the post before I walk up to get Tom from his last Tennis afternoon for the term.
After dinner I head to choir. A great night tonight. We sing some wonderful pieces.. in preparation for the Christmas Eve parade and the Folk Festival opening event. Very enjoyable.

Wednesday , and there is rain about again...

John sets out early for his trip to Hobart.
Tom and I do recorder and he reads to me while I begin to get things together for my trip to Sydney tomorrow.
The morning in the shop is pretty quiet.
I have some customers doing some Christmas shopping..
I watch the crowd assemble to go into the hall for the big Concert!! Hope it goes well..

The sun makes an appearance after lunch...makes such a difference..
John has a successful expedition..
Tom arrives in all smiles.. The concert went well.
Tom spends the afternoon doing a soft toy inventory...collecting together the possums, wombats, Tassie devils etc that have been spread around the flat and attic..
We have a relaxed evening..

My Sydney visit is delightful.
I catch up with Ma and Pa and the 'sibs' and I even manage to see Sandra briefly too...so wonderful to see everyone and share latest family 'doings'. Thanks for your hospitality Libby and Tim..
Breakie at the Armory Café.. A wander through old stomping grounds at Pennant Hills ..
Wonderful dinner at Chris'..thanks Chris and Dewayne..
Marty and I do the fabulous Bronte to Bondi walk. Spectacular surf..Then Marty takes me to N2 Extreme Gelato in Dixon St..Amazing..We enjoy taking in the sights of Darling Harbour too..
Christmas lights o Saturday tops off a great weekend.